Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2024
115. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on recent activities of the Irish Consulate General based in Hong Kong, including staffing numbers. [28077/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of the Consulate General in Hong Kong is to develop relations between Ireland and Hong Kong across a range of political, economic and people-to-people activities, to provide services to the Irish community, and to report on developments in Hong Kong. There are three diplomatic staff posted from the Department of Foreign Affairs and two locally engaged staff. The Consulate General works closely with the Embassy of Ireland in Beijing.The Consulate General provides consular and passport services to a community of over 3,000 Irish citizens. These services range from emergency and crisis consular advice to facilitation of passport renewals. In the period of January to June 2024, the Consulate General facilitated the delivery of over 317 passports and dealt with over 2500 email queries.The Consulate General has engaged in a number of activities in line with the objectives set out in the Government’s renewed Asia Pacific Strategy published in October last year.
A key element of their work is the promotion of Irish culture in Hong Kong. In February, the Consulate General hosted the first official St. Brigid’s Day event in Hong Kong. The event brought together women leaders in the Arts and business in Hong Kong.
In March and April, the Consulate General partnered with the Hong Kong International Film Festival, Hong Kong Walls street art festival and the Hong Kong International Literary Festival to sponsor the participation of Irish artists and promote modern Irish culture to a local audience.
For St. Patrick's Day, the Consulate facilitated the visit of then Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath. The Minister’s programme included engagements with diaspora organisations, meetings with Irish State Agencies working in Hong Kong in support of Irish businesses, and media engagement. He also held a roundtable discussion on the Financial Sector in Hong Kong with the participation of Irish professionals working in the industry. The Consulate General also supported a number of community events in Hong Kong to mark St. Patrick's Day.The Consulate General has also participated this year in European Union Member State observation of trials of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong brought under the National Security Law and other legislation. The Consulate General reports regularly on political developments in Hong Kong.The above key activities are in addition to a programme of ongoing engagements with diplomatic counterparts, the Hong Kong administration, key stakeholders in the financial services industry, other members of the business community, the sporting community and the resident Irish community and members of the diaspora.
